Machine for inserting cartridges into cartridge belts for automatic guns



Dec. 25, 1945. c. T. HALL ET AL MACHINE FOR INSERTING CARTRIDGES INTO CARTRIDGEBELTS FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Filed Jan. 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 25, 1945. c. T. HALL ET AL 3 5 MACHINE FOR INSERTING CARTRIDGES INTO CARTRIDGE BELTS FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Filed Jan. 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 25, c T HALL ET AL MACHINE FOR INSERTING CARTRIDGES INTO CARTRIDGE BELTS FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Filed Jan. 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 25, C T HALL ET AL MACHINE FOR INSERTING CARTRIDGES INTO CARTRIDGE BELTS FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 29, 1943 Dec. 25, c, T, HALL ET AL MACHINE FOR INSERTING CARTRIDGES INTO CARTRIDGE BELTS FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Filed Jan. 29, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Even/Z07:

MIX-4d By W)! x m' Dec. 25, 1945. c. T. HALL ETAL 2,391,568

' MACHINE FOR INSERTING CARTRIDGES INTO CARTRIDGE BELTS FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Filed Jan. 29, 1945 e Sheets-Sheet e 3% Inventor:

' main/419456 Patented Dec. 25, 1945 MACHINE FOR- INSERTING CARTRIDGES INTO CARTRIDGE BELTS FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Charles Thomas Hall and Richard William Harris, London S. E. 8, England Application January 29, 1943, Serial No. 473,992

In Great Britain February 11, 1942 4 Claims.

. are formed at regular intervals along the length of the belt into which the cartridges are inserted. Some belts (hereinafter called the first type of belt) have the seams extending to the extreme edges or selvedges of the belt, while in other cases (hereinafter called the second type of belt) the seams terminate a short distance (e. g. /8 of an inch) from the edges on that side from which cartridges are to be inserted and referred to as the entry edges. Generall the major portion of each loop or pocket is of a width suitable to engage the main body part of the brass shell or case of the cartridge, while the remaining portion of the pocket is narrower and of such size as to receive the stepped down diameter of the case which holds the projectile in position. All such belts will be termed herein belts of the kind described.

According to the invention, there is provided a machine for inserting cartridges into belts of the kind described, having means for intermittently feeding the belt and means for moving a cartridge transversely of the belt and inserting it into a pocket or loop thereof, comprising means for turning a cartridge being fed towards the entry edge of the belt askew so that the nose of the bullet of said cartridge is directed towards that end of the corresponding loop which is the rear end, considered in the direction in which the belt is being fed, and means for locating such end of the loop relatively to the nose of the bullet to facilitate the insertion of the cartridge. The locating means for the end of the pocket or loop may comprise means which engage the material of the belt on each side of said pocket or loop to hold it taut. The means to hold the material of the belt on each side of the pocket or loop may be adapted to provide a relative movement between the sides of the pocket or loop so that they move towards one another after the nose of the bullet has opened the rear corner of said loop, whereby the loop is completely opened as the cartridge is completely'inserted. The means to hold the material on each side of the pocket or loop and adapted to provide relative movement between the sides of the pocket, as specified above, is not new in itself, but is claimed herein in combination with a particular Way of inserting the cartridge, whereby the two features together cooperate to provide an improved result.

Further according to the present invention there is provided 'a machine for inserting cartridges in the second type of belt wherein there is provided an opening device adapted to separate the entry edges of the belt as the latter is fed along to facilitate the insertion of a cartridge.

An electric contact device may be adapted to cooperate with a metal component in a belt (e. g. a tag or eyelet) to operate a switch to stop the current supply to .an electric driving motor and cause the machine to stop when a belt is filled.

One way of carrying the invention into effect will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which show a machine for inserting rimless cartridges '(e. g. .300 of an inch S. A. A.) into a belt of the kind described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the cartridge inserting machine.

Figure 2 is a plan of the cartridge inserting machine.

Figures 3 and 4 are end elevations of Figure 1, the views being taken in the direction of the arrows A and B respectively. a

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a fragment of Figure 1 showing more clearly the devices which operate on the cartridgesand the belt.

Figure 6 is a view of a fragment of Figure 2 showing more clearly the devices which operate on the cartridges and the belt. In this view a hinged part is swung out of the operative position to show-hidden parts more clearly.

Figure 6A shows another view of two parts shown in Figure 6.

Figure 'l is a view of part of a cartridge feeding apparatus and shows how the cartridges are fed to the inserting machine.

Figure 8 shows a portion of the second type of belt. i

Figure 9 shows a portion of the first type of belt.

Figure 10 is an isometric diagram of the method of inserting cartridges.

Referring to the drawings, cartridges are fed in any desired manner from any suitable hopper or hoppers to the flutes of a drum 5, which is rotated in timed relationship with a plunger 52 described below, so that a new cartridge is delivered by the drum 5 .after each actuation of the plunger 52, so that a magazine 29 has approxi-, mately the same number of superposed cartridges during operation (see Figure 7) The machine, including the fluted drum driven from a mainshaft I 4 which carries a pulley driven 'bya .motor or the like or'by a hand wheel *(not shown) for setting and like operations.

Referring now to Figure 7, the drum is pro- "shape'a device is providedto support them duringtheejecting movement. "This device isshown in Figures 1, '2, 3 and '7 and comprises -a bevelled attached by 'means of a fiat spring "32 to'a bar 33. The bar is fixed to a cam Flever -34 having a roller "35 thereon which en ages a cam 36. "The cam is-fixed on a camshaft 64 described later and a spring -31 efiects the "return movement. The spring 32 gives the plate "-3-l :suf-

ficient flexib lity'to enable'it to'en'terbetweenthe 'l-owest cartridge in the magazine and the one above it in spite of small variations in the 'disposition oi the cartridges in the magazine due to their ta er ng shape. As shown in Figure 17, the plate *3-'l-' is about to 'move between the two cartridges when it will lift sli htly as it rides over the lowest one and raise the ot er four in the magazine slightly aboveth'e position shown and also cause the lowest round to move to the left in Fi ure 7 against the left-handed s' deof the magazine 29 so that the axis of saidround 'is slightly askew (see also Figure 2). v

The table- 0f the cartridge inserting machine is horizontall disposed and supported on a bed. 5!. In alignment with the lowest cartridge in the ma azine 29 there is provided a reci rocating pusher '52 which engages each cartridge in turn andxpushes it into a loop of a belt. The

pusher is adiustably supported on a slide 53 .mountedin a horizontal guide "54 fixed to "the'bed and is reciprocatedgbymeans -0f alever-55 which is pivoted at '56 'to a bracket 5! fixed to the base of the "bed of the machine. The upper end of the lever is connected at 58 to a link '59 pivoted at 60 to the pusher slide. Th'e -1ever"55 is oscillated by an eccentric rod :6! which 'is driven by an eccentric '62 carried on the 'mainshaft 14. A camshaft 64 is rotatably mounted "in bear ngs formed in the bed and is geared to'thc-'shaft I 4 'by'beve'l' gear-wheels 65and 56. V

The cartridge belt C. B. is fed "across the table 50 and through the machine transversely to the direction of movement of the cartridge pusher 52, by means of a lever 68 provided with a cartridge engaging member 69 "at one end; having pairs of semi-circular grooves 10. each pair being adapted to engage a cartridge. 'Ihecartri'dge engaging member projects upwardly through slots "H in theta'ble ofthe-machine, and-engages-a cartridge in the belt, the reaction being "taken-by a top plate .or guide 12 normally fixed at a suitable distance above the table of the machine. When the member "69 has engaged the cartridge in this manner, the member is moved horizontally for a distance equal to the pitch of the cartridges in the finished belt, whereafter the memher is moved out of engagement with said cartridge, and moves down clear of the belt on its return stroke, at the end of which it moves up towards the belt again and-"engages theinext cartridge. As "shown, the cartridge feeding member 69 is fixed at one end of the lever 68 and the other end of this lever is pivoted at 13 to a cam lever 74. This cam lever is pivoted at its lower end .on a shaft 15ffixed in the bed BI and is oscillated about said :pivot by means of a roller 16 on the lever which engages a cam 11 fixed on the camshaft 64 previously mentioned. The cam is arranged to positively move the cartridge feeding member on the belt feeding stroke, and the return stroke is effected by a spring 18. The lever 58 which carries the cartridge engaging member is provided with a roller 19 which engages another :cam on the camshaft and during the return" movement of the cartridge-engaging member, this second :c'am moves the lever about its pivot and permits the cartridge engaging member "to move away from the cart idge rbe'lt under the action of a spring I02.

When the belt is first placed intothe-machine, a cartridge is inserted :by hand into the first be'lt pocket at the leading send .of the belt, and this cartridge is 50 disposed that it is engaged by the first pair :of grooves 10 (.i. e. the left hand pair Figure ii) of :the cartridge engaging member S9, so that ewhen :the "machine 'is turned, positive feeding :of the .belt immediately takes :place. When the belt is'jlncatedxin this manner, a pair of gripping devices, comprising plates 81 and 82 having narrow :edges, are moved into engagement with the cartridge belt at :a position located between the cartridge inserted into the belt in the manner described, and the following empty loop or pocket. Theiedges of the gripper plates areserrated, see Figure 3.

A gripping device r-is fixed to one end 50f each of .two double armed levers 83 and $4,:said'levers being pivoted :at 85 and 186 respectively on brackets 3"! and -8B fixed beneath the table and :onfthe upper :surface of 'the top plate 12 respectively. Compression springs '.89"are' .iltte'd to the levers at positions "between the gripping devices andthe pivot points, and levers and 9| are attached tothe :pivot ipiI'l'S, the free .en'ds'of the levers being :bent inwards towards one another at 103 in such manner that they :canfibe simultaneously "engaged .by a roller IM mounted on the upper end ol azn oscillating lever 92. As'the end of said lever moves away .fnom the pivot points of the gripper levers, the roller engages the inwardly bent ends :of the gripper operating levers and thus causes the two grippers to approach one another and 'grip the material of the belt. .As :the lever carrying the :roller moves :in the opposite direction "the grippers are opened by the action of the compression springs, the "extent of the movement being controlled-by abutments -or stops :l 05 Tormed'on the gripper levers and which engage with :surfaces :of the table and @top plate respectively. The ilever92 which operates the ippers is :pivoted on the shaft 15 and :is provided with a roller '93 engaging another cam 94 fixed on the camshait 64.

Vfhen the grippers have moved into operative engagement 'with .the .material of the :belt, the cartridge pusher 52 operates and presses the :lowest cartridge *in :the magazine 29 forwardly "so that its nose "tends to enter the :second .iloop in the belt. In a belt as manufactured, the loops are quite flat and the insertion of a cartridge into such a loop is a comparatively difficult and uncertain operation. Means are therefore provided to assist the loop to open as the nose of a cartridge is presented thereto. While the material of the belt is gripped by the grippers previously described at a position between the cartridge already in the belt and the next empty loop, the belt is engaged by a feeder 95 at a position just beyond the other side of the said loop. The feeder comprises a lever pivoted at 95 to one arm 91 of a double armed cam lever and having its free end serrated or roughened on the face 98 which engages the belt.

. The feeder is caused to move to the right, Figure 1, by a roller 99 on the other arm IIIII of the cam lever which engages a further cam I on the camshaft 64, the return movement being by the spring I02 previously mentioned. The feeder is pressed into operative engagement with the belt by a roller I 01 pivoted on an arm IIlB extending from the lower gripper BI so that as the gripper moves upwards the feeder is pressed on to the belt and at this time is moving to the right Figure 1. As the grippers separate, the feeder falls away and is checked by a stop I09 and at this time is moving back on its return stroke.

The upper side of the belt is supported by an abutment IIII on the top plate 12 to provide the necessary reaction to the feeder pressure. The serrations on the feeder are preferably formed by sharp edged grooves or points formed therein parallel to the direction of movement of the belt.

As the feeder moves forwardly, that is towards the cartridge already inserted by hand into the first pocket of the belt, the material comprising the loop, which as aforesaid is gripped at one side by the grippers, is thus gathered and the loop tends to open.

Two kinds of belts are shown in Figures 8 and 9. The belts consist of two separate plies of fabric joined together by threads interwoven or sewn and represented in the figures by thick dash lines.

The belt shown in Figure 8 is of the second kind and the two strips or webs of material which form the belt are not joined at the extreme lower edge as the dashes do not extend .to the edge. This is the edge referred to hereinafter as the entry edge at which the insertion of cartridges takes place. In this case a device is provided for opening the two entry edges to facilitate the insertion of cartridges. The device comprises a knife-like member I III fixed to the table and adapted to separate the edges as the belt feeds along. It is located near the feeder 95 as shown in Figure 6 and its shape may be followed by reference also to Figure 6A. To control the belt as it moves towards the gripping, feeding and opening devices, guides III are provided and in order to bring the entry edges of the belt substantially into alignment with the nose of a bullet, a packing plate H2 is fixed between said guides. As the belt leaves the guides it is received on a locating plate I I3, see also Figure 6A, and as it passes from the inserting position it is controlled by guides I I4. Sloping guides or ribs H5 are fixed to the table 50 and to the top plate 12 to engage the bullets and assist in guiding the belt.

The method of inserting the cartridges is shown in Figure and Figures 2 and '7 should also be considered when studying the method. In order to facilitate the entry of a cartridge into a loop which at this stage is held taut by the grippers as shown in the drawings, guides are provided which turn the cartridge askew. As will be seen from Figure '7, the magazine 29 is formed by two brackets I29 and I30 which are fixed to the table 50. The brackets have inner guide faces 29!], 29I, 300, and 3M to fit the tapering shape of the cartridges, but the guide 290 is cut away at the bottom. See Figure '7.

Thus as the wedge 3| moves inwardly as described above, it will cause the lowermost cartridge to line up against the guide face 29I and the cut away portion of the guide 290 so that it lies against the part I29 slightly askew and on actuation of the plunger 52 will advance in this line since the wedge 3|, see Figures 2 and '7, will tend to keepit askew.

Only after the round has entered the belt and is caused thereby to straighten up, is there enough resistance to cause the round to overcome the pushing action of the wedge 3| to cause the latter to rise and raise the cartridges above it. Thus the lowest cartridge in the magazine is caused, by the pressure of those above it, and by the pressure of the wedge 3 I, to turn its nose to the left in the manner shown in Figure 10. In Figure 10, the axes of the cartridge being inserted and of the pusher 52 are shown by chain lines and show the cartridge entering the loop while it is still taut. The axes lie in the same horizontal plane but at an angle to each other. The effect is to cause the nose of the cartridge to move very near towards one end, (i. e. where the seam which defines a loop is formed in the belt), of the still fiat loop. The loop end in question is the one adjoining the feeder and its horizontal disposition is located very accurately by the feeder and the abutment lIlI.

Thus as a cartridge is pressed by the pusher 52 its nose will open the corner of the pocket. This operation is followed immediately by the gathering referred to above.

Simultaneously the nose of the first cartridge fed by the pusher 52 is pressed into the loop and the combined operation causes the loop to open completely and certainly and the cartridge is pushed home by the pusher. The feeder then moves back. Once the entry has been effected, the cartridge can slew around into its true position, in alignment with the pusher and at right angles to the length of the belt.

In the construction shown, a contact bar I20 is provided which is connected to the switch circuit in such manner that if a connection occurs between the bar I20 and the machine frame, the motor will stop. The bar is fixed on an insulating block I2I which is in turn fixed to a lever I22 pivoted 0n the spindle I I5 which is also supported by a bracket I23 fixed on the table. The bar may be raised for inserting a belt and held in the inoperative position by a stepped portion I24 on the boss of the lever I22 which engages a stepped collar I25 under the pressure of a torsion spring I26. The belt is provided with metal eyelets I21, Figure 10, at each end and as the rear eyelet passes beneath the bar contact is made to the table 50 and the motor is stopped.

The time of contact is so chosen, by experiment, that the inertia of the moving parts of the machine is sufficient just to complete the filling of the belt and no more.

Figure 9 shows the first kind of belt and the principal difference in this kind of belt over that shown in Figure 8 is that the sewing or interweaving which joins the two plys of material and defines the pockets or loops extends to-the extreme or entry redgesiso that it isnot possible to use-the knife lil ll to eifect the preliminary opening of the loops. i It will also be noticed that a long metal ta 128 is usedlin place of the eyelet I21 but this i's n'ot =materzial' as the "electric contact her 1! 20 can be'shi fted. t0:secure the properttiming.

a What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for inserting cartridges into fabrimtypebelts provided with loopsxfor receiving {the cartridges, comprising means for intermittently feeding the belt in the direction of its length, means for moving cartridges transversely of the 'belt and inserting a cartridgeinto :a loop, means tor tu min'g a cartridge being fed towards the belt obliquely with respect to the length of the belt so thet'the nose of the bullet of said cartridge is directed towards that end of the corre- "sponding loop which is the rear end, considered in the-direc'tion in which the belt is being fed, and means-"forlecating-such end of the loop relatively tothe nose of the bullet to facilitate the insertion the cartridge.

:2." A machine as claimed in. claim 1 wherein 1 said locating means comprises means te -engage the said-locating means engages the belt on each side of 1a. loop to hold the belt on eachside of a loop to hold the belt taut and is movable to cause relative movement between the sides of the loop -to cause the latter to approach one another after the nose of the bullet has entered the corner of the loopwhereby the loop is completely opened as the cartridge is 'completely'inserted.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising an electric contact device adapted to :co-operate with aamet'al component in a 'beltto operate a switch to stop the current supply toan electric driving motor and cause the machine to stop when a belt is filled.

CHARLES THOMAS RICHARD WILLIAM HARRIS. 

